The Grenada gazette. (Grenada, Miss.) 1885-18??, 1887-08-13

! shouldn't have spoken to you. l have
reason for wishing all the Nellis's Of.
ncers on this voyage to be honest men
and good sailors Now I'll give you
good pay and good treatment. and OK.
pect my orders to be obeyed and the ship
work properly done. but there must be
no swearing in the poop Of my ship
this voyage. Why. you will know
later Come aboard
Il followed him aboard the bark,
wondering what sort Of skipper had
run across No swearing! Why. I
never saw sailor In my life who didn't
cuss just Is naturally Is a pig grunts.
Well. thought ]. can stop myself, but
! won't answer for the men. BY this
time we were in the cabin and looked
around. Every thing was as fine as
Cunard Liner. The mizzenmast that
came down just at the head of tho
cabin table. was boxed in teak wood,
richly carved. Instead Of the regula-
ton bench or long seat each place
had = revolving chair fastened to the
floor. The rooms were finely furn-
ished and the china and plate In the
stewards racks were Of the best.
Lucky. thought l, We didn't 60 into
the after-cabin. and after promising
to meet the master. whose name l
found was Nicely. went ashore.
THE next day I signed articles and
three days afterward we were being
towed down the Narrows just as the
sun was dropping behind Staten Is
land. The third day out the captain
came to me and said: Mr.. Brooks,
did you ever see this course steered
for IloiloP No SIR said l, as rule
I've laid more to the southeast Well,
l am going to the East Indies. but not
until l stop at Hampton Roads. You
see. Mr.. Brooks, two years ago my
wife died, leaving a daughter seven
teen years old, who had never in her
life been away from her mothers side.
1t was impossible to take her to sea
with me then. as I was bound to the
African coast. So I put her to school
near Philadelphia and have not seen
her since. I could not stand it any
longer, and have written to her to
meet me at the Roads, and shall
take her with me this voyage. 1t
seems to me this bark, that is
named after my daughter. never went
so slow. If the promises Of her youth
have been fulfilled she is beautiful
woman now. The tender tones and
far-away look Of the captain as he
spoke showed plainly how wholly he
was wrapped up in his beautiful
daughter. Strange to say, several
times afterward I caught myself
wondering what sort Of a girl this was.
Why was she going to sea' and all
that. But the mate of ship has not
much time for incoming.
A good. stout breeze soon sent US to
Hampton Roads. where we dropped
anchor. and the old man too a tug and
went up to Philadelphia for his daugh-
ter The next afternoon ! was down in
the chain lockers looking after the
cable when the captain came aboard,
and heard the word passed for me
to come aft. l did so and got orders
to weigh anchor. A canvas-covered
trunk near the cabin door told Of Miss
Nellis's arrival. For the next hour !
was in the forecastle, and when | came
off dove into the cabin for some water.
As I turned the cooler faucet the after
cabin door opened and girl stood be-
fore me. She must have thought me
crazy. for a silvery laugh called
my attention to the fact that
while staring at her the cup had
filled and the water was streaming
over the floor As stopped the flow
soft, sweet voice said: Will you
please have my trunk brought into the
cabin?' Certainly stammered, and
the door closed. Bcwildered and con-
fused l tumbled on deck and gave Or
dcrs to two of the men to take the
trunk into the after-cabin.
can not describe her. Somewhat
below the average height, slender fig
ure, dainty hands. and a face beyond
description. A brunette Of a pro-
nounced type. with great. dark eyes
and dark hair, finely cut mouth.
straight. clear-cut nose, and . voice
that thrills me even in remembrance,
so low and vibrating were its sweet
tones. She had not been twenty-four
hours on the ship before her inf uencc
was felt When tho men came aft to
the wheel they always had their hair
brushed. and several went the length
Of knotting a handkerchief around
their necks. Ihad been formally pre-
an ntcd NV her father. and every day |